Two hundred and ninety-six organ transplants took place in this country last year. Each and every one of which has transformed somebody’s life.
But one of the more unusual of those organ transplants featured on the Today programme on RTÉ Radio 1, presented by Cormac Ó hEadhra, who was filling in for Sean O'Rourke.
It involved a mother donating a kidney to her 17-year-old daughter and, even more strangely, it was the second transplant the recipient has undergone in her young life.
Michaela Delaney and mother Liz Delaney came to talk about their remarkable journey, culminating in their mother-daughter kidney transplant last year.
"I was really anxious because I didn’t want my mam to get sick and go on dialysis as well as myself," Michaela said. "But I wanted to get better at the same time."
Michaela’s kidney problems became apparent at the very outset of her life. She was born weighing just 3lbs, after what was a trouble-free pregnancy, according to Liz.
But just 10 days after the birth, her parents noticed that there was something wrong. She was diagnosed with a rare, inherited kidney disorder, called Nephrotic syndrome, and underwent her first kidney transplant aged just 18 months.
Since then, Michaela’s life has been relatively trouble-free, apart from daily anti-rejection medication. But two years ago, in 2015, feeling constantly tired and drawn, new tests showed that the kidney was beginning to fail. Another transplant would be necessary.
And so her mother, Liz Delaney, stepped forward:
"Once the option was there, if I was to give a kidney, if I was able, which I was in the end, I was going full force with it…The change then it makes to the person… It’s very gratifying in the end, to see how you can make somebody better."
There are risks, of course, associated with any major procedure such as this. But, as Liz says, when it comes to your own child, you will do anything.
The operation took place last year and was a complete success. Despite that, the family are conscious that Michaela, having received her first transplant 15 years ago, and still only 17 years old, may well need another transplant at some stage in future.
Of course, organ donors are essential, at this time, and there is a significant waiting list for recipients. But with medical advances becoming more extraordinary as the years go by, Liz is optimistic.
"Nobody can tell in the future. As one of our consultants said, they are actually trying to grow kidneys. Who knows, the next time she needs a transplant, maybe she can pick one!" Liz said.
Organ Donor Awareness Week 2017 is coordinated by the Irish Kidney Association and runs until April 8th.
Already across twitter people have been showing the importance of organ donation:
Met some amazing people at launch of @IrishKidneyAs #Donorweek2017. Isabel is waiting 14yrs for a transplant pic.twitter.com/Ski28tOa78
— Vivienne Traynor (@viviennetraynor) March 28, 2017
My hero @Jarlath at his 2 month post kidney donation checkup.So proud of my man!👊#organdonation #Donorweek2017 @IrishKidneyAs @NHSKidneyCare pic.twitter.com/xvsFIyPW6J
— Tina Reganbot (@reganbot) April 5, 2017
Triona Cleary, transplant recipient with Pauline May, Organ Donation Nurse @saoltagroup & Angeline Cook @IrishKidneyAs for #DonorWeek2017 pic.twitter.com/bVdg64jCMe
— Saolta (@saoltagroup) April 6, 2017
To get your organ donor card – Freetext the word DONOR to 50050. You can also visit the website of the Irish kidney Association at www.ika.ie.
Visit to the full interview of Michaela and Liz Delaney with Cormac Ó hEadhra above.
